TUCSON, Ariz.  The University of Arizona women's gymnastics team dropped
a close Pac-10 meet to the fifth-ranked Stanford Cardinal, 196.200-196.300,
in front of a crowd of 602, in McKale Center Friday night. Although Arizona
lost by only .100, the Wildcats posted a season-high team total of 196.200
that ranks as the second-best team mark in school history. Arizona dropped
to 4-13 overall and 1-6 in the Pac-10 Conference, while Stanford improved
to 9-3 on the season and 4-1 in the conference.

In addition to its season-high team total, UA also set three team event
season-high marks on vault (49.025), bars, (49.375) and beam (48.975).
Arizona's bars score tied the third-best total in school history, and the
beam score is seventh on the all-time scoring list. UA's season-high 49.025
tied the eighth-best vault rotation score in school history. Eight Wildcat
gymnasts  Nikki Beyschau, Lindsay Compitello, Nicci Filchner, Kara Fry,
Randi Liljenquist, Andi McCabe, Mary Reiss and Heather Straccia  each set
or tied season-high and career-high marks in tonight's meet.

UA trailed Stanford, 49.025-49.225, following the first rotation, but the
Wildcats cut the Cardinal lead to .100 after UA's season high on bars in
the second rotation. Stanford increased its lead by .225 entering the
fourth and final rotation. The Wildcats roared back on floor with
career-high performances from seniors Kara Fry and Mary Reiss, but the
Wildcats were unable to catch the Cardinal squad in the final stretch.
Stanford senior Jen Exaltacion's 9.925 (first place) on beam in the final
rotation helped seal the win for the Cardinal.

Arizona and Stanford split the four team events. The Wildcats won the bars
and beam events, while Stanford edged the Wildcats on vault and floor.

Individually for the Wildcats, senior Kara Fry set a career-high 39.525 in
the all-around and won her third all-around title this season. Fry's 39.525
tied the second-highest score on the UA's all-time top-10 performers' list.
Fry also set a career-high 9.950 on bars and tied for first-place honors.
Fry's 9.950 on bars tied the third-best all-time individual score. She
finished second on beam with a 9.875 and tied a career-high 9.900 on floor
and tied for second place.

Junior All-American Randi Liljenquist posted a career-high 9.875 on vault
and finished in second place. Liljenquist's new vault score is the No. 8
score on the all-time top-10 list. Liljenquist won the floor title with a
9.925 and tied for third on bars with a season-high 9.900. She ended the
meet in second place in the all-around with a season-high 39.475.

Sophomore Nikki Beyschau tied for first-place honors on bars and scored a
career-high 9.950, which tied the third-highest individual bars score in
school history. She also tied a season-high 9.850 on vault and tied for
third in the event. Senior Mary Reiss helped pace the Arizona lineup on
floor, as she tied a career-high 9.900 and tied for second in the event. In
her only event of the meet, senior Nicci Filchner tied a career-high 9.825
on bars. Senior Heather Straccia scored a season-high 9.725 on vault and
set a career-high 9.750 on bars.

Freshman Andi McCabe made her collegiate debut in the all-around,
finishing in seventh overall with a career-high 38.575. McCabe scored a
career-high 9.675 in her first collegiate performance on bars. She posted a
career-high 9.850 on beam and finished third in the event. Sophomore
Lindsay Compitello tied a career-high 9.775 on beam and finished in sixth
place.

"We are trying so hard to win a meet, and it is frustrating to not be able
to hit a complete meet. We came really close tonight, and we are just going
to keep working hard to improve week after week. Kara (Fry) is really one
of the top all-arounders in the country, and she is having her best season.
Overall, we had a great effort, and we hit three event season highs, so we
have a lot to build upon in the coming weeks."

Arizona closes out a two-meet homestand next week, as the Wildcats prepare
to battle intra-state rival Arizona State on Friday, March 2, at 7:30 p.m.
MST, in McKale Center.